A former Missouri morning show anchor for St. Louis’ Fox 2 has been arrested for allegedly stabbing her elderly mother to death on Halloween, authorities said.
Angelynn Mock, 47, was taken into custody Friday following the fatal stabbing of her 80-year-old mother, Anita Avers, according to the Wichita Police Department.
Neighbors described a harrowing scene.
Alyssa Castro told local reporters that Mock appeared at her car around 8 a.m., drenched in blood and asking for help.
“There was a woman who approached our vehicle with like blood, like her hands were filled, her body was filled with blood, asking to call 911,” Castro said.
Mock then reportedly retrieved Castro’s phone, ran back inside the home, and contacted authorities herself, allegedly claiming she had “stabbed [her] mother to save herself,” Sedgwick County dispatchers told reporters, according to the Daily Mail.
When officers arrived, Mock was waiting outside with multiple cuts on her hands.
Her mother was found unresponsive in bed with numerous stab wounds and was transported to a nearby hospital, where she died roughly 30 minutes later.
Mock was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on a charge of first-degree murder and is being held on a $1 million bond, according to the sheriff’s office.
Avers worked as a marriage and family therapist at Wichita Counseling Professionals, according to her husband.
Mock previously served as a morning and evening fill-in anchor at KTVI Fox 2 in St. Louis from 2011 to 2015, the New York Post reports.
After leaving the broadcasting industry, she held a series of sales positions in the St. Louis area before joining a Midwest-based data management company with offices, including one in Wichita.
The attack left neighbors shaken. Castro said she was grateful emergency services were able to respond quickly, despite the traumatic circumstances.
“Like, we never know what anyone is going through. This happened randomly, but as long as we were able to get 911 and see what we can do, that’s all I really care about,” she told KAKE.
Social media suggests a previously close relationship between mother and daughter.
Avers’ Facebook profile features images of Mock reporting at a baseball game, while family photos show the two hugging and smiling together.
These images highlight the stark contrast between their public closeness and the tragedy that unfolded.
The Wichita Police Department has not released additional details regarding the circumstances leading to the stabbing.
Investigators are reportedly examining the home scene, witness accounts and Mock’s statements to authorities.
Officials have emphasized that the case remains under active investigation, and no further comment was provided.
Neighbors also expressed concern for the safety of the surrounding area, noting the rarity of violent incidents in their community.
“We never expect something like this to happen in our neighborhood,” Castro added. “It’s terrifying to see anyone, let alone someone you know, in that situation.”
Authorities continue to piece together the events of Halloween morning, including Mock’s motivations and any potential underlying circumstances.
While some details remain unclear, law enforcement confirmed that Mock’s arrest followed standard procedures, including medical evaluation for her injuries, booking into the county jail and a high-set bond.
